Why Truck Drivers Change Jobs So Often British Trucking

Why truck drivers change jobs so often, My thoughts about why the trucking industry has a large turnover of truck drivers in the UK. I take a look at the trucking industry and note how truck drivers are unhappy driving trucks in the UK.
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Video Title: Why Truck Drivers Change Jobs so Often British Trucking
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[@simongee8928]

I was a trucker for 16 years. Packed it in for several of the reasons given. I'm now a warehouseman and when we get deliveries, I always treat the drivers with the respect they should all be given. Been there, seen it, done it, got the T-shirt.

[@andrewgage6942]

I'm trying to get out of driving, I've had enough of being treated like dirt

[@martynlawrence2365]

Drivers are their own worst enemy! Never stick together except in the moaning department. Remember, these companies are 100% reliant on their drivers! Stick together - approach management and demand better wages - Management not playing ball - Walk out for say 5 days then see what happens. Remember, agencies are short of drivers also!

[@karlmcglue9946]

That's what the unions are supposed to do but there the same now

[@thehighwaycowboy2822]

Very true indeed, I'm an Agency Driver and the Agency I'm at is actually pretty decent and I get decent work but they are massively short of drivers

[@Kitiwake]

Their dumbest own worst enemy.

[@mickharrison9004]

That was easier said than done and maybe still is, how many poles do you even know, never mind drivers from there that would stick with us, it's always been perfect for grim employers since poles came, there willing to do anything and on a different agenda to most of us, hammering 3 years then back to Poland live like a king.

[@lloydburdis1960]

Martyn you spot on they all moan like hell but haven’t got the gumption to fight for a professional wage they keep banging on about being professional drivers well pay professional money, a large operator in South Wales has been getting away with paying not much more than minimum wage for years and their are many across the country playing that game. You see these guys putting up videos on KZbin boasting how much they are earning of course your taking a good take home wage there doing twice as many hours and living like tramps all week, that doesn’t mean it’s a good paying job. Got out this industry two years ago thank the Lord.

[@paddy4799]

If all the drivers got together, pulled the ignition key, stopped work!. Takes about 5days to bring the country to its knees. £35000 per year sounds reasonable but at 70hrs per week is actually two weeks for one weeks wages. Everything is your fault, If refugees (economic) get in your vehicle, you done it deliberately and give us £2000 for each stowaway. If there’s a shortage of anything in the shops it’s your fault. Your lorry is limited to 56mph but it’s your fault that other drivers can’t get anywhere faster. On the back of the trailer there is a phone number (free) with “how’s my driving”. This enables brain dead’s sitting at 50 mph in the middle lane to judge your driving. U.K. is the only country to class drivers as amateurs as we know any tosser can drive a truck. The rest of the world your a professional. You might get three weeks holiday a year but the graduate who tells you the route to a job but has no idea what England looks like, will be on six weeks holidays, half the hours and double your wages. You could not make this shit up. PAY THE RIGHT MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@danquixote6072]

Don’t drivers have a unions? In industries where unions are strong or where there is a big disincentive to go against the going rate, pay rates are good

[@paddy4799]

@@danquixote6072 you are obviously not from the U.K. the unions in this country have been decimated by successive governments to the point where they have no power, no real right to protest and the knowing that the government will bring in the police to quell any strike actions. They only need to agree on a day to stop work and do it until this mess is sorted out. Alas the drivers do not have the backbone. I got out of the industry twenty years ago and within three months I was earning four times as much a month and less than half the hours. And home every night. Result!

[@danquixote6072]

@@paddy4799 My Dad used to be a lorry driver, I used to sit on his knee driving down the M1 in the good old days. Point is, getting that level of agreement on a single day takes organisation. I hate Brexit but it does put the lorry driver in a much stronger position - it’s simple supply and demand economics - but it would need organisation, a clearly defined objective. I like the idea though. Glad you found something better👍

[@sirbrian9404]

Bloody hell m8 spot on well said me old mucker I've just given it up after 40 years always on shit money and disrespected 🙄stay safe me old mucker

[@krazywally5685]

Spot on

[@thehighwaycowboy2822]

I'm a Trucker and have been offered work driving a Sprinter van delivering light goods Monday to Friday earning more money than HGV

[@helenndow1101]

Good for you.people like you saved my life during this madness lately. Amazon, EBAY and so on delivered anything I needed to survive. Many thanks.

[@thehighwaycowboy2822]

@@helenndow1101 ❤️

[@lloydburdis1960]

Take the job mate I got out this industry Two years ago, earn more money selling books on Amazon it just doesn’t make sense that the industry treats their most valuable asset (that’s not the bloody lorry like) dirt

[@IkeBrider]

If truckers followed the French drivers logic and all went on strike the country would be f***ed. What commodity doesn't get moved by a truck? Not much!

[@Pattrickro]

I'm a 27 year old Class 1 driver been driving for nearly 4 years and you are spot on

[@MrPaulCurtis]

Before you go for a job, ask yourself who's boots you are filling, and why did they leave the job? Just a thought that's all;)

[@36minutesago7]

Yeah profound, thanks.

[@davidyoung9561]

Yes that is a valid statement. I have a class 1 HGV but still driving a bus. Lorry driving is crap and although bus driving is and I am still bus but at least I get to go home at the end of the day. The bus industry also has a constant high turn over of staff.

[@fennellturtle]

Should get 2 references before starting 👌👍

[@steve17404]

If it wasn't for truck drivers the country would come to a stand still look what happen when tanker drivers went on strike

[@simonmp7]

We get treated like 3rd class citizens, especially in distribution centres. I gave up driving just as COVID kicked in and I wish I’d made that decision year’s ago.

[@IkeBrider]

People can only treat you like a 3rd class citizen if you allow them to. When I worked for tesco a team leader said, "if you don't like it here fuck off and get a job elsewhere!" My answer was, "OK! as I picked up my bag and walked. I am a very professional driver, I have 40 years experience. Their loss! 😀 now they recruit from the warehouse and have drivers who keep having accidents. Karma!

[@flipper2392]

@@IkeBrider I once applied for a job with Tesco but as I'm not a complete wanker I didn't get (or want) it.

[@2KXMKR]

The idea of "If you don't shut up and get on with it we'll just replace you" is everywhere. Not a trucker myself, but the vans I drive every day have "Recruiting now! Become an [X] driver today!" on the back, even though all of our roles are filled with part and full time drivers. It's honestly a reminded that you're just a number, a replaceable cog in the corporate machine. Young inexperienced staff are also sought over older [and wiser] staff, as the company knows the younger ones are much more likely to just get on with what ever they're told to do, while the older ones will tell them to sod off! I've seen a 17 year old being asked to move a pneumatic pallet truck, the electric motor ones, even though they have no idea what it even is, only for a much older guy to jump out and tell him not to touch it without being properly trained. What if he injured himself with it?

[@jamesnelson9997]

I drive class 2, home every night, Mon-Fri, not filling my card everyday, £38k a year🤷‍♂️ stay away from the big name companies and you’ll find something that suits you

[@danielmoran9902]

You know it, absolutely the right. It's all about attitude from and to the job.

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

Don’t drive ,but this is a recurring theme ,if it was so easy to get well paid work then that’s where the driver would go

[@izaakellis3903]

Plz what company is this?

[@callumraza5046]

@@izaakellis3903 brakes pay that much

[@johncouriermeh]

Just come across this video and can honestly say am in total agreement with you. I was a class1 driver for many years and being exploited goes with the job. I was earning good money 20 years ago and it seems that wages just stagnated with large increases in foreign drivers. I ended my career in a class 2 job, 26ton Scania, because I found a small company that paid reasonable wages, on a 5 day a week basis with overtime, who were excellent to work for and very friendly. The only down side was I had to travel 40 miles to work and then home again. I retired after doing an extra year for the company and they asked me again to stay on and with Covid happening at that time I wish I had but you need to retire sometime.

[@philipstokes2824]

These companies that have recruitment ads painted on their vehicles are a red flag to working there, obviously have a high turnover of staff, and usually for a good reason

[@MrAvant123]

I have a lot of sympathy with these guys, they have a lot of skill and responsibility and here in Devon I salute the drivers that take HGV 1's down some of our lanes safely !

[@sirbrian9404]

Totally agree with you my old boss used to say you drivers 10 a penny and there's the door 🚪so I walked 🚶‍♂️through it.

[@jameswilson8820]

The industry is a piss take

[@frankbyrne8931]

Here Here

[@bb1518]

I 100 percent agree with you

[@BritishTrucking]

The Industry certainly needs a massive shake up, the responsibility and professionalism of truck drivers is quite simply not reflected in the wages they recieve, but in times of a pandemic we are all of a sudden key workers to our Country vital for supplying goods needed, but we still have to work for not much more than minimum wage, I love driving trucks it's been a career I wanted since an early age covering my bedroom wall in pictures of trucks from magazines etc, but we still need to be able to pay bills, with all the hours we work we shouldn't be in a position where we struggle to make ends meet most of the time.

[@skiptonn]

Go on strike but lorry drivers just get on with it get the union involved that simple the country would be fooked if everyone went on strike

[@James-mc8lj]

I was want to get into truck driving to progress myself but the sad reality is I make more money working unsociable hours in nhs as care assistant, than class one drivers are getting paid per hr 😔

[@martinmccormack9181]

When I started off driving class 2, 50+ hours a week would get me less than £300. Now after 16-17 years and more jobs than I've had hot meals, I've found a company than looks after their fleet properly and pays a decent wage. Your right, if Companies payed that wee bit more, the drivers would probably stay and put up with the bull$hit. We are supposed to be professional, so where is the professional wage?

[@martinmccormack9181]

@@paulsawtell3991 just like 75% of the idiots I've seen in my years out on the road. Professionally hgv drivers might not be perfect, but the one true fact is, without hgv drivers, this country gets nothing. No fuel, No food, No roads, No, buildings, Nothing!

[@lipsee100]

@@martinmccormack9181 HGV driver may think of themselves as PROFESSIONAL, but no one else does..... Drivers are not highly regards because they take such a low wage.. Up the wage and up goes the regard... I think callin drivers Professional is patronizing,,Doctors,Dentists they ain,t..

[@garrysteptoe2279]

I find the industry has a very high proportion of bitching arguing drivers, agency vs company, class 1 vs 2, picking on the driver that uses the truck on another shift etc. Focusing frustration at the wrong things. We should not need to feel angry or frustrated. Why can't everyone stick together as a union and demand better treatment and pay. A national day of action for example. a you tube day of action. I am astounded that I hear folk complain, but in some sort of denial, quoting a yearly salary whilst not disclosing the hours put in for it, boasting to fellow drivers and sometimes lying to make the rate sound better. As long as there is bitching between drivers, and folk showing off their big shiny trucks on the internet whilst driving for peanuts, nothing can change. The turn over in this industry is incredible, drivers always moving on pretending to themselves that the next employer will be better, no it won't be, it is merely a change! Drivers deserve more than the contempt they receive, they deserve respect, better conditions and facilities. Compare this role of responsibility to some other vocations and trades, If a driver makes a mistake the results can be catastrophic, but there is no real encouragement or reward for such responsibility. I refuse to sit any CPC (on the principle that it is not true training and merely a costly formality of attendance only, and does not enable better respect, pay or conditions, the only benefactors being the training establishments) I moved on from driving after more than 30 years. Tired of going to receptions/ security booths/ delivery points where you are treated like non human and denied basic respect. Non existent or overpriced parking, wash, toilet and food facilities and constantly running deadlines of impossibility watching our tacho, truck condition and weights. This has a toll on our health. Please do not perpetuate the problem by defending it, change it!

[@MrPaulCurtis]

But can't you see that it's what they do! They keep you divided and at odds with each other so that you will never get together against them! As an individual, you are easy to get rid of, if you get together...THEY ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE!

[@rolling8358]

Your spot on in my opinion there Garry. We're all just hopping all over the place looking for decent respectable work that pays, and never really finding it. A national Day of action would be extremely beneficial i think. What are we after though, I'd say more money, cheaper parking, less patronising cpc or scrap it. I tend not to moan while I'm on the road as I don't want to be that guy, even for my own mental health. But things do need to change.

[@smrangers22]

25 yrs driving and drivers will never never stand together to fight for better pay etc etc .so shame on them .

[@BritishTrucking]

@@smrangers22 Your spot on the companies attitude is there is always someone else to fill your boots, no respect from employers! always another driver around who will suck up to them and make you look like your just causing trouble when you complain about something!

[@andrewstratford4753]

One of my bugbears was id keep cab very clean and tidy all litter taken away then afternoon shift driver or agency gets in it and trashes it and dont get me started on smoking in cabs nothing worse if you dont smoke.

[@petercroft1901]

I'm a pcv driver. We go through similar training, cpc, medical etc. We get crap pay too!

[@paullacey748]

My last job was driving a Skip Lorry. I started on £10 per hour. I was there 9 years and left because of the CPC. I was still on £10 an hour

[@westcoast747]

That’s awful you should be on £19/hr after 10 years of loyalty.

[@mbarker1958]

Truck drivers have my vote every time! I am an ex seafarer, was away from my country and family for months, I also lived and worked in different countries. I took a job here driving around the UK in a 306 Peugeot last year. I am astounded by how bad british roads are and how good truck drivers drive down them, whilst people in their SUV's cannot negotiate a road unless they are in the middle. Truck drivers 'thread the needle' down impossible and stupid British roads, whilst car drivers can't even pass without a metre each side. At least in mainland Europe there are better roads and places for trucks to park and stay overnight with toilets too.

[@lemming9984]

"people in their SUV's cannot negotiate a road unless they..". I thought you were going to complete the sentence with "unless they get their husbands to do it for them"

[@bigjobs5000]

Speed and Traffic light cameras, Variable speed cameras, council cameras - and all other forms of camera harassment (underhand tax gathering at the expense of the motorist) I believe is another very large factor in the lack of HGV drivers in the UK. Many heavy goods drivers have left the industry due to these 'Stealth tax cameras.' The massive increase in these cash-cow devises installed sneakily everywhere to simply to fleece motorists has had a great impact on lorry drivers. I know some who are constantly worried about getting points. To me the cameras are the Crime, not the supposed 'offences' artificially created by them.

[@bigjobs5000]

@@paulsawtell3991 I too believe the borders with moats idea is not that far off Paul! Every council has the power to levy huge fines on anyone coming into their town or area - more than the police it seems (who the council fund and basically own anyway). City and town councils are installing cameras everywhere for any absurd 'offence.' And the extortionate Council Tax is pretty much just a 'rent' on your property paid to these local government criminals.

[@ktgequestrian4475]

@@bigjobs5000 the council most definitely do not "fund" the police. The Council may try to tell the Police what to do but generally get short shrift.

[@thomasnault7811]

Damn. I thought it was just us American drivers that dealt with super low wages! It took me 5 years to find a job paying me 85,000 a year. I have to be away from my wife and child for 5 day’s a week to make that.

[@sethc6663]

That's sad, not the 85k but the fact you have to be away from your family.

[@brodib9524]

No wage is worth your family time

[@paulporter5331]

You guys got it easy big roads all videos I've been watching there's good money to be earned ill swap with you no problem mate.

[@Cypher791]

I feel like i am constantly jumping from the frying pan into the fire... but i agree, long days, hard, stressful exhausting work for £2 more than minimum wage when i have invested thousands of pounds in my licence.. im not happy and i dont need to spend more than 3 weeks in a job before i decide its time to go.

[@marklythe1755]

Very true mate I don’t appreciate the shit we have to do for 12 quid an hour

[@edwardkent]

When i see a class 1 driver with a tail lift........i just think..........WTF.......i DID IT FOR ONE DAY and then thay told me i was too slow Weathersponns.......i will never drink in one of their pubs ever...............

[@tripackdroned4626]

“They change THEIR jobs so often”. Just saying.

[@jimreynolds2399]

Saved me the trouble - it bugs me when people can't get something as simple as this right.

[@ASingh1699k]

I spot this there/their error all the time and, for me personally, it undermines the content.

[@thehighwaycowboy2822]

You should see some of the delivery notes I get given 🤣🤣🚛

[@mivids100]

It depends witch their they’re using!

[@jimreynolds2399]

@@mivids100 you have got to be taking the p155!!!!! It should be their and it doesn't depend on this occasion. Witch? Please tell us all that was an auto-type error. We will believe it! I'm embarrassed for you!!!

[@philipmenzies7087]

Been retired 5 years after 44 years HGV driving. In that time the vehicles have progressed, handling techniques have progressed, pressure to do the job has increased due to vehicle and driver monitoring but it's the same aggro, same attitude from employers. Less places to park, eat or even abloute! As for the wages they haven't, only by inflation, and there's less opportunity to do your own thing due the aforementioned monitoring. I would never recommend being a truck driver now to anyone these days and I frequently have to remind myself how bad it was when I start looking through "rose coloured glasses".

[@asp383]

Used to go out with my dad during the school holidays through the '80s and early '90s, he was class 1, tramped all over UK for a furniture manufacturing comany that had their own fleet, I was going to follow in his footsteps, but could see how the industry was heading even then, I stayed on at school for 6th form and did the sensible thing of getting a trade untill I was 21, then go for my HGV, so did an automotive apprenticeship, but decided to stick with mechanics, due to how many drivers I knew, who were leaving the industry back then. My dad retired about 20 years ago now and only driver's I know now, do specialist work, no general haulage. At the point now though with mechanics, expected to work on hybrid and electric vehicles, plant, agricultural, industrial machinery and other equipment and systems, all without the appropriate training, even where we have had additional training, out wages haven't risen to reflect our extra skills and benifit to the company. Not 100% sure I want to stick at it for another 20 years to retirement, but then again, not sure what else I'd want to do. I'm happy so far, none of my kids want to follow me into mechanics or dad into driving.

[@flipper2392]

Likewise, after fifty years, (twenty three as O/D) the only improvement I've seen is in the vehicles and equipment, relative wages and conditions have gone through the floor.

[@stevenjohnston6213]

You have to do a cpc waist of time .some prick telling a driver of 25 plus years experience how to do the job .hgv driveling is a joke .will only get better if all the drivers stuck together went out on strike .but they won’t .thats why it will never get any better .

[@steveatkinson689]

That’s why I gave up and I resented some classroom prick telling myself, a driver of 35 or so years experience that I was an uneducated fool. I operate plant now, start at 8 finish at five with the odd weekend, no problems, sod HGV work !

[@vansavage528]

I always liked driving for a living, I started driving light haulage and progressed to class 1. I also agree with the points made in this clip, however now 1 of my many soul destroying thoughts of today's truck life in the uk is the laws and regulations you have to abide by for safety reasons, for example driving time and working time directives, hears a hint to employers the driving time and working times are limits not targets, as soon as I'm pushed in to the limits zone as if its a target, I'm on indeed scrolling too.

[@petemullen842]

I had a HGV class one for seven years, I thought it was the job for me glad to get out of it, too many restrictions low wages and very bad attitudes. Got myself a window cleaning business over the last five years the money is rolling in I don’t do contracts houses shops small businesses, I make more in one week then I did in a month working trucking so happy with what I am doing.

[@kevinyoung7087]

3 haulage companies in Cornwall collude to keep wages suppressed. Leave one and won't get a job with the other 2. One had class 1 drivers on just above minimum wage. Drivers made the money up by doing nights out. Regularly saw their trucks parked in laybys a couple of miles from base.

[@matollsen2523]

Hi Dave, I am a truck driver and I have to tell you this is exactly the reason why drivers change job. Problem is people mix up driving personal cars and thinking is fun with driving truck. That mean everyday dealing with : wrong ref. number, no parking spaces, loading and unloading, rushing for deadlines working up to 15 hrs a day and not to forget the actual driving itself. And of course if you are not respected and paid accordingly this hurts.

[@BritishTrucking]

That is it in a nutshell Mat, let's hope with recent hype and the government being forced to look at our situation brings the required changes needed in the haulage industry, although with the way the government have handled issues so far i think it might be a case of watch this space with caution! Thanks buddy 👍

[@petermumford265]

Who ever puts in the lowest tender, gets the contact!!! Also pays the lowest wages!

[@mhoward181]

Eddie stobart pay min wage. An Agency for stobart paid a bit more but that’s there new trick. They pay you a p/h wage that includes your holiday. So your payslip is broken down every week as if you have been on holiday and working. Crazy. Top tip. If this is the case take £1.50/2 per hr off and that’s more like your true per hr rate. Another trick is they use an umbrella company to pay your wages. It’s like being self employed. Very strange. You end up paying tax or may NI twice. It’s not good. Complete rip off.

[@krazywally5685]

The whole ploy is to save the agency from having to run a payroll dept but as you pointed out after you take out your holiday and pension entitlement you're on less than min wage, criminal

[@wildsurfer12]

3:22-3:28 Hi mate I’m from the future (2021) and can tell you that a lot of HGV companies regret saying those words now!

[@neilpinner5750]

I left after low money low conditions threats and that will do maintenance, the final straw was when I had to nanny the new guy who had done the five day course to class 1 hgv and kept wrecking stuff, he was terrifying to be in the cab with and the company recieved money to have him . Its these fast track schemes that only train people to pass their tests but don't train people to drive, and then good drivers are being badged along with all the shit and inexperienced/novice drivers out there. I now drive a digger, great money and proper bonuses,toilets rest rooms and often I get two wages because I can drive the tipper. I still go to interviews for drivers just to see their faces when I tell them I dont want their job cos I can get the same money stacking shelves in a supermarket!

[@JamesBond-kh8dk]

There was a major issue with foreign driver immigration - this caused the wages to be squeezed as the market was flooded with drivers who will accept £9-11 per hour as they just wanted to work. however I think this is changing as you rightly point out drivers are becoming more savvy about their value, and combined with the fact that some drivers will be going home due to brexit, and also a general shortage of hgv drivers nationwide we should all start to see industry rates creeping up over the coming years. Class 1 fuel tanker driver on £17/hour in south west - guaranteed 29,300 on basic hours even we get shocking treatment so it’s all the way from van drivers up to class 1 adr drivers and I hope to god we fight back and get what we deserve for whatever we all do

[@maestegboyo]

Amen 🙏 hit the nail on the head 👍👍👍

[@Scott.f]

I agree plus in the North West its all agency drivers first and if you have a mortgage 1,2or 3 days a week is not enough. One cpc only. Spread distribution centre around all skelmersdale, Liverpool, Manchester mean 1 to 2 hors driving before starting

[@krzysztofdziura5331]

Truth! Thank you for video. Totally agree.

[@BritishTrucking]

My pleasure!

[@Russ.M]

Thought I had found the dream job when moving to a logistics company that paid well with good working conditions and respect for the drivers. We all thought the same, worked hard and got the job done. All good until a takeover by a larger company. Ok at first but not for long, mostly all drivers walked out. Back to square one!

[@alanevans7527]

Their mate, their. Over there. their tacho their boots, over there. Thank you, truck driver.

[@andrasmazan2400]

You are correct about many things Dave! But we can only blame ourselves for being treated like that... 1 week of no truck moving in whole Europe would sort out the problem for the next 15 years in all countries... think about it

[@mrpetehampson]

I left class 1 I’m now making £800-£1300 if I work weekend a week installing and servicing air conditioning to homes and offices, no tachograph etc

[@richardnewton638]

Your correct, as a driver for 30 odd years I can testify that although the trucks have got better the work has become stressful for less cash in real terms. For example 15 years ago I would make around 650 a week. Today it is still 650 still.( if your lucky). I've worked very little in the uk since 2012 as I just dont see the point. Germany av £950. Belgium £900 av. Holland £1050 av. I work in the middle east on heavy haulage for the past 3 years on £1900 per week. When I return next year 2021 I will not be looking for a hgv job as rates are still the same as when I left. Hope this helps with your next blog.

[@richardnewton638]

@John Buffalo I am 98 I work for the US military.

[@deanturton8458]

I got my class 1 & 2 and I wish I had never done it now. Can’t seem to get out of truck driving. That’s all that people see when I send my CV off for other jobs so I never get anything back of employees when I try to look for other jobs.

[@philiprhodes5537]

Yep i have the exact same problem ive been driving for 26 years in this industry and i try to get a nice little factory job just to get me back into a normal ish way of living with just a 40hr week and normal 8hr a day shift and everytime i apply i hear nothing back from any of them when all i want is some kinda normality in life after slogging my guts out for half my life driving a lorry😢

[@zeez9053]

philip rhodes I wish you luck

[@zeez9053]

Cv ‘ s are used against people there designed that way if you don’t lie in them

[@lipsee100]

@@philiprhodes5537 Keep at it Phil,,, there will be something out there for you...I was made redundant,, and had numerous other crap Lorry driving jobs before I bit the bullit and switched to PSV,,, Driving trucks can be abit drug like ,,it can be difficult to shake the habit !!!..

[@SIBUK]

If you left your job as a trucker would it be easy to get another one? If so then just lie on your CV

[@jodavies8952]

Culture needs to be corrected from crap money, stupid hours, disrespect, you look after people, they will look after you,its quite simple, but now it's still the road to nowhere 😬

[@gregthompson7666]

You've hit the nail on the head with this one, but how can we enforce change and gain the recognition and rewards that we are due?? So many companies and differing rates make standardising pay and conditions virtually impossible. Without legislation I feel the exploitation will only continue.....

[@marcobrian1619]

I can see your point......low pay been treated like shit! Where as agood long term driver would be better for company's as it's less training costs and also Long term drivers know the job and are more effient!, newbys are not so sure so are slower,and then put under more pressure and rush things and make mistakes! So final note, pay and treat drivers well it will be better for the company in long run!

[@mrtj24sdt]

I've been lucky. I've always earned between 40k-50k as an international class one. Earned a lot when I did a summer job in Canada.

[@aightm8]

40-50k Canadian is the same as 26k-36k in GBP which is the payscale he gave for class 1

[@mrtj24sdt]

Sorry Vincent let me clarify. When I was doing Europe I was earning average £44.5k (weeks and weeks away) and I went to canada for 2 years (ontario) did OTR work and earned roughly $60,000 CAD. Currently back on the European work. Been in the industry for 7 years

[@nigelgregory4777]

Mate it's not just drivers getting shit on us, I'm a mechanic, hgv class 1, I ern the same as a bloke that cycles to work because he can't even drive a car, the whole transport industry is fucked, we have no new blood coming in because they are treated like crap, can't wait to get out of it.

[@joebrown2279]

25 years class1 & tour coaches and the amount of times I've heard (" If you don't do it there's the door "). This was for eg ; not taking out a defective unit or trl or bending some other rules. Now working in a yard for more money & less hours 👍 Don't think i would ever go back to the driving . I know of a large internet FC that recently put 18 guys through class1 and all of them found out what was involved and how much class1 wages are and stayed working in the FC on better money for less hassle and hours lol

[@jiinx72]

Don't drive a HGV but it is shocking how little driver's get paid for what they do. Would explain why there's a big shortage in the UK seeing people cannot live on the wage or just get fed up with the stress of the job Vs what they could get paid else where doing something else. Hats off to those who do stick it out with what they have to do on a daily basis.

[@admiralcraddock464]

my son was a truck driver from several years hauling hazardous chemicals. with overtime and many nights out he was on about £42k. However, he had no sick pay or pension. Got tired of not knowing if he'd be home the same night, eating crap food in service stations and having to use showers that, sometimes, been used as a toilet. A Added to that were the Berks in Mercs cutting him up on motorways and being 10 miles from based and having to stop for the night as is digi card hours were up, made him leave the industry. He's now a train driver on £54k basic, sick pay, six weeks holiday, great final pay pension and he knows six months in advance what shifts and nights he'll be doing.

[@gthbtn]

I have absolutely no experience of driving... That said I worked for the railways and following privatisation and the creation of over 20 different train companies (instead of the British Rail regions,) train companies who paid more/had better conditions attracted drivers, leaving those who treated drivers like crap short staffed, until they started paying a decent rate and improved conditions... All it will take us one or two companies to start paying a decent wage to attract and retain drivers to force all companies to either improve or struggle to get drivers...

[@thekingoftheworld9553]

Capitalism 101 shaft the workers to squeeze as much out of them as possible!

[@Hightower600]

Same as subbies coming in and cutting rates just to get contracts then going to the wall a short time later.

[@bnibcdcreativemedia9851]

Here in the US Ive tried to work my way into a better pay bracket with gaining various experiences as well. Turns out that even having a tanker endorsement, wideload, oversize, haz mat, perfect driving record, several years experience, perfect criminal history, perfect drug test and DOT physicals the best money I can find is roughly 75,000 if I want to sit in a truck 24/7 and 60,000 to do slave labor as a CDL operator of a vac truck in a steel mill. LOL. Well, cant complain too much i guess. Im actually trying to get into a class B position driving a smaller truck because it pays almost as much but the competition is fierce.

[@shaungilmartin1505]

Truck drivers don't work a 37 hr week so quoted annual earnings should be rounded down to take that into consideration otherwise the earnings cited are disingenuous

[@PaulCreane]

Thought provoking video, I agree with your view. Bad companies days are numbered. I worked for some very low wage in the south west, £9. Per hour is normal, fifty pence more for Hiab, school runs on coaches is no better. I have chosen to look elsewhere, such as mobile crane, more money to invest and five yearly refreshers. Thanks for sharing.

[@benwelch1010]

I drive a 3.5 ton for ASDA at the moment doing 35-40 hours a week (up to 48 in the summer) and the most I've ever taken home is £1300 in a month. I'm looking at going in to HGVs and from what I can see the wage is one of the biggest selling points. 26k a year would pay back training costs in less than 12 months and after that I'd bringing home double what I am now. In my opinion the extra driving difficulty and being away for a few nights a week is definitely worth double the pay.

[@danny1229c]

what is the point in more money if you never get the chance to spend it ! your time is the most valuable thing in the world because once its up the game is over and your gone forever, better to have less abd spend time with those you love making memories.

[@paulbell9530]

Look at the hourly rate not the yearly salary you only usually earn good money with the overtime.

[@paulg351]

I drove for Asda, the wages were terrible, but you work it out, if you drive HGV, you will be lucky to earn a couple of hundred extra per month and have to deal with all the hell that comes with it.

[@benwelch1010]

Quick update. Had a job offer within 24 hours of passing my CPC mod 4. I don't work weekends, I'm home by 5:30pm and I'm taking £1800 home. Good jobs are out there and I'm loving it

[@Robbo1966]

Rightly said, yep im working longer hours now and for far less pay, than at any previous time in my working life. Industry pay sucks

[@leesaunders5357]

i passed my class 2(was a class 3 then)about 30 years ago,best paid job going ,now i drive a van,doing removals,i get paid per hour more than a class 1,why,my respects to you still trucking,stay safe and watch that blind spot

[@No2Censoring]

It's not just the poor pay . It's being treated like utter crap by the employer

[@tenbear5]

That happens everywhere & in almost all disciplines.

[@nataliegardner3122]

Done the rounds, including buses....back to stone/muck tippers, less grief and site people want to see you, unlike some spotty oik with a clipboard at a RDC saying you're early/late.

[@Davis36749]

I can totally agree with this, also would be the way you are treated. If agency drivers were treated with dignity and respect they too would feel appreciated rather than like a commodity that can be picked up and dropped at a moments notice.

[@BritishTrucking]

That is a very good point agency drivers do the same work and in many cases under more difficult circumstances, not having their own regular truck, being messed about with hours and when I did some agency work no one seemed to want to help in any way it was like your not part of our team so just get on with it !

[@12345678914084]

Did my hgv class 2 test, cost me nearly 1200 pound (including initial tests) failed due to one serious fault on driving test. Too much money to retake test

[@ddlivingfreefreva6613]

You nailed it,pal! Too many managers concerned about their next b m w while the driver is concerned about his next bite to eat...

[@ronwhite4442]

I think your right mate always someone to replace you .

[@chrism8705]

I packed it in after 30 years finished on containers not to bad just hated driving in the end deliver car parts in a van now home every night weekends off easy

[@planet_69]

Be ready for a national strike, stock up with non perishables.

[@tx5190]

Been doing that for over 18 months. An extra few items a week builds up over time. Got through the shortages in March and Covid isolation in April last year without much problem. Having to rotate stock and use up 2021 dated products but I just replace with longer dated foods on my next shop. Subject to availability of course.

[@tinyp3021]

I have PCV and hgv2. Seems I can earn more money doing PCV.

[@barriewilliams4526]

Supply & demand fixes the level of wages in too many cases 🤔

[@petershute3580]

Ask the owner when they buy a truck do they say to the sales man I can’t afford to pay 300 grand for a new truck I can only pay 100 grand and see what they say. It’s called WAGE THEFT pure and simple as soon as government make it law they can start prosecuting these criminals

[@iGoldsmith101]

Class 2 driver myself, im currently paid £34,000 a year flat rate plus a bonus every 6 months for multi drop work. Fair enough its in and around London but thats a huge difference between my pay and the wages you are saying you earn.

[@BritishTrucking]

that's good money in comparison to up North

[@theydontlikeitupem.4725]

Yeah that's pretty damn good for class 2 work. Round my way class 1 drives are paid about min wage per hour. Lots of eastern european drivers willing to drive for peanuts, and lots of company's happy to take the pi#£ out of drivers. Incidentally most yards in my town are all desperate for drivers. I wonder why 🤔?

[@iGoldsmith101]

I got lucky aswell the company I work for paid for my CPC and both my C1 and C licences over the past year.

[@Ryan-uh9le]

@@iGoldsmith101 food deliveries?

[@iGoldsmith101]

@@Ryan-uh9le not with the company any more but it was food, new company doing multidrop flat pack furniture at £37,500 a year now.

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

It’s in everybody’s benefit that people earn a liveable wage in all forms of lower paid jobs

[@zeez9053]

Not the GOVERMENTS

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

@@zeez9053 more tax ? More money actually in the economy,as opposed to being locked in a bank vault tbf I’m not an economist,but could probably help the cycle of poverty ,which in turn would cut benefits

[@trickyrat483]

"Their" - belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified. "There" - in, at, or to that place or position.

[@briandouglas2123]

And not forgetting 'they're' - short for they are.

[@Palestina.non.grata86]

This video makes me count my blessings for what I have. Been a Class 1 tramper for just under a year now but I still enjoy what I do. I walked into this career with stars in my eyes and a desire to be the best driver I can be. These days? The inner workings of the industry has opened my eyes a little: drivers are treated like we share a braincell across 60,000 people, general lack of respect for what we do, how much we've trained, how much we PAID to be trained and given the same rate as an Aldi shelf stacker, if we're lucky. £10 per hour isn't a lot for the majority of drivers out there and I get that, especially when you do 60 hour weeks and take home maybe 500 a week, if you're lucky. For me personally, as someone who was stuck with 8 hour per week contracts, driving 3.5T vans for Asda and Tesco for years before getting my HGV licences, treated with a similar level of disdain and disrespect for barely any money at all, I can hand on heart say that this is better. Going from 400-500 a month to 500-600 a week? Treated with respect from my colleagues at least? I'll take this. Its a shame that potential drivers are being discouraged from something that I find incredibly rewarding, not just financially either. The way I look at it? Better than an office job and better than the bloody dole.

[@BritishTrucking]

I agree entirely driving trucks is a great career it's the industry itself that needs to change, we need to be paid a fair rate for what we do and treated with a lot more respect certainly by management in many cases! I have worked for good and bad companies in the past, if you find a good one stick with them as there are plenty of bad ones out there unfortunatly.

[@Palestina.non.grata86]

@@BritishTrucking I could not agree more. Yes, every company has its flaws, even the good ones but its the ones that take care of you, that treat you like a name, not a number, that are worth sticking with. Hope you're well on the road too.

[@cymru24davo]

100% correct

[@darren25061965]

Are you sure its a 4 part Test?, Ive just qualified as a bus/coach driver and it was a 5 part test. Training costs start at £2400.00 rising to £4000.00 depending on who provided the training.

[@davidives7997]

After £1700 qualifying in 2003, I lasted then just 3 years. What a trudge for nominal wage. Now registered disabled and unable to handle hgvs

[@BritishTrucking]

The initial set up costs and continued costs for CPC if a company doesn't pay for it certainly do not reflect the pay rate a driver gets, the pay structure needs to change right across the haulage industry if it is going to retain drivers, thank you David for your comment 👍

[@paulthomas3841]

A up Bro, I'm am ex lorry driver, my son in law is a lorry driver,

[@BritishTrucking]

Great to have you on the channel Paul 👍

[@TrailDave]

24k for class 2? Wow where are you looking? That's terrible. I am currently a branch manager who has finally fallen out of love with retail after 15 years. Currently training my class C and then Class C+E and then ADR. I am seeing class 2 entry level jobs at over 30k for companies like, Afonwen 32k (delivering laundry) Instarmac 34k (Delivering pallets) Lanes Group 44k! (Thames water probably sewage) Chambers single man recycling truck 36k. I'll stop here but I've seen so much more. Only two of those class two jobs I mentioned even asked for prior experience (Instarmac and Chambers) Advantage I have I am safe in my current job just burnt out. So I can get my qualifications and choose the right job at the right time I guess.

[@mrm-rd6dp]

Same position as me, I have just stared my HGV class 2 training and hope to get my license but won’t get a job doing it until I can find the same or better pay then my current job which is £13,27 an hour but that’s working nights.

[@keshatton2334]

I am a highly experienced driver, been in the transport related industry for 30 plus years. I have a National and International manager CPC and help ADR for 18 years plus driver CPC for 10. I drive luton vans now for a national recycle company that pays VAN drivers £11 ph in the south west. Class 2 drivers are on almost £12.80. Home every night, short day (i rarely work more than 9 hours) Why would i want to change jobs?

[@castawaybeachbungalows]

Not just the hours, I find the attitude of the major chains NDC’s etc stinks. Long waits in shitty waiting rooms, hand in keys, no respect whatsoever to drivers. 10 years perfect class 1 driving but I’m never going back.

[@peterhoult8710]

how come night out allowance was 20 pound about 20 years ago and its more or less the same now

[@markchester7584]

Anyone know the difference between their, there and they’re?

[@brendanosullivan1880]

Having drove HGVs for various companies in Ireland for over 20 years. I decided to try out taxi driving 18 years ago. Getting away from Truck driving was without doubt, the best decision I have ever made. Watching the videos makes me cringe and reminds me how niave I was to put myself in a complete vulnerable position regards, wages, total bullshit regulations re. Cpc certs, lack of proper facilities re food showers and parking, no appreciation for a job well done and in all too many cases a bunch of control freak arseholes from delivery points, securit staff, ferry port staff, police and customs and most importantly authoritarian powers who have zero transport experience.

[@charlies5217]

I have a class 2 and not driven a truck for 10 years or so. It was 7.50 an hour back then, the pay is still rubbish on it. I fix fruit machines in pubs, get a company car, normal hours and earn just over £12 ph, definitely would never go back to the trucks again.

[@simongee8928]

Pay appears to be a big issue. When you go for a job, obviously you ask what the pay will be. If the firm palms you off with 'it could be this / that with bonuses / overtime' etc., then if you don't dig deeper before accepting the job and the pay is less than you were led to believe it MIGHT be, then you only have yourself to blame. If you don't know what your guaranteed gross weekly / monthly pay will be and you feel underpaid, then you shouldn't have accepted the job in the first place.

[@krazywally5685]

I let my cpc expire which forced me to go and find alternative work. I spent years multi drop delivering in Central London and West end in 7.5 tonner.

[@paulthomas3841]

Alright, my son in law, keeps changing the companys he drives for 😖😖😖😖😣😣😣

[@barryrayner]

I have retired from driving now. I started driving in 1968, in the army. I had a HGV3 (four wheels and max 16.5t). When I left the army in 1977, I went to work for Roadline UK. I had to join the union, T&GWU. There were no paid holidays, if you had time off, you did not get paid. There was no pension schemes. My pay was about £1.25 ph. In 1986 I took my HGV Class 1, the pay now was £4 ph, no holiday pay, no pensions. I had to work through agencies for the first five or six years. The pay was always lower than the employed driver I was replacing, I had to do the same work, but without the experience and knowledge. I often had to travel up to 70 miles to get to work and return home at my own expense, which was not allowed for in my pay. I found out that the agencies were getting almost double what they paid me from the companies. If I could not work for any reason through the agency, I would probably not work for then next two or three days. If I was offered a job by a company that I was working for, the agency would demand a 'finders fee' which the company would not pay, hence, no full time job and usually never working the that company again. I think it was in 2000 that I managed to get a job being employed that actually gave you 14 days holiday pay, this included bank holidays and Christmas. I could not get any form of company pension until about 2004 when I joined a large 'global' haulier and that was after three years of employment. With the introduction of the Drivers CPC, this made it harder for drivers to get a job. When I took my first CPC, I had to sign a contract to work for the company for three years, or they would take the cost of the CPC out of my wages when I left. At the age of 67, I needed to have a medical to renew my licence, at a cost of £90. I also needed to take some of the CPC modules, at my own expense. So I decided to retire from driving. My brother, two years younger than me, was getting £20 per hour making sure truck drivers washed their wheels when leaving the building site, but he was a qualified bricklayer and plasterer until he had an accident that he could not use a trowel any more. The bosses all say 'Monkeys can be taught to drive' so let them train them and see what happens. They took on cheap foriegn labour, which smashed up their trucks, then deserted them when the exchane rate was not favourable. They still drive their big Mercs and Jags though. They still live in luxury houses, play golf and strut around as if they own the world.

[@davidscott1466]

Very very true,

[@colinisherwood1885]

You can get a fork lift truck licence in a day and be on more money than a trucker, also be home for family all the time. No job is not worth seeing your kids you can't buy that time .

[@jasbindersingh2441]

If this "qualification " costs only a couple of grand and can be done within a few weeks ...is it really much of qualification .? Problem ain't low wages - it's high costs (house prices / rent) more focus should be on reducing costs than increasing wages...but of course...tory governments do looooooove high house prices

[@colinhughes2045]

You can't buy experience....and companies won't pay enough for the experience...its like throwing Pearl's to the pigs..!

[@stevendavis7079]

You ever tried driving one. They are daunting. Sheer size, blind spots, idiots in cars. Then take one into London. Of course its a qualification.

[@colinhughes2045]

@@stevendavis7079 with a statement like that...he obviously has never driven a truck in his life..! The majority are clueless 🤣

[@stevendavis7079]

@@colinhughes2045 Along with those in the transport office!!!

[@colinhughes2045]

@@stevendavis7079 exactly 👍

[@witlof5492]

Dave, please learn the difference between 'there' and 'their'. Thanks.

[@clarencebodicker3299]

I started work last week for a big company i ploughed the truck and trailer into a wall writing both off I've asked for pay increase but they didn't seem interested!

[@nobodygrinder5667]

You could turn that to your advantage. More drivers probably will quit driving. Soon enough either the rates increase or the company's fall out.

[@simonmurphy706]

HGV licence categories changed to LGV in 1992 class 1= C+E class 2= C.